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After the great successes of the Blue team, Averelli, Belladonna and Garozzo played in a lot of exhibition matches, sometimes as part of "Omar Sharif's Bridge Circus" [or some such name]. There was one tour, according to Garozzo, which was a riotous success. Everyone came to see them play, and they cheered everything. Garozzo reached 3NT, which requires a finesse against a king: Garozzo finessed, the crowd cheered and clapped: what a wonderful player, he took a finesse!
Eventually Avarelli picked up a balanced 12count. Pass pass to him, he opened 1
, playing Roman Club. After Garozzo's negative 1
, he rebids 1
and this is passed out. Now comes the play. The crowd is restive. Where are the grand slams? How can their idols make game on a triple repeating squeeze if they are in 1? So, for the first time that day, a hand is played out in total silence.
| West | North | East | South |
| . | Pass | Pass | 1 |
| Pass | 1 |
Pass | 1 |
| All Pass | . | . | . |
| Board 5 Dealer North N/S Vul |
 1042 8753 J93 A83 | ||
| KQ873 6 A64 Q962 |
![[ ]](gif/table-ss.gif){kind=small} |
95 AK92 Q10872 K4 | |
| AJ6 QJ104 K5 J1075 |
7 to
J,
Q to
K.
to A.
J to
A,
from W.
7, 5, A,3.
K cashed, then a
back to K.
Avarelli now played
A and a
, E winning
K.
After ruffing the
Q, Avarelli then led
J to West's Queen.
This was the position with West on lead:
| - 87 - - | |||
| Q8 - - - |
|
- 92 - - | |
| - 10 - 10 |
and on the Q return
9 was smothered
Total silence.
Well, not quite: fortunately there is one person in the room who can recognise a miracle when it happens in front of him. Well played, partner, says Garozzo!!
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